Welcome
Welcome to the home page of the Wessex Mills Group. The Group was formed in 2003 as a centre for the milling heritage of Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. We meet regularly, often in one of our local mills, and we welcome new members and their guests. For membership and other information please find out more about us.
Next meeting
Our next meeting will be a double visit to Hele Mill and Bicclescombe Mill, Ilfracombe, on Saturday 14th July 2012. For more information see our Programme page.
Featured Mill ‒ Piles Mill, Allerford, Somerset
 © Martin Bodman and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence |
Piles Mill is thought to be named after a former miller/owner, Edward Pyles, and is first mentioned in 1580. The spelling has changed over the years, being recorded as Pyles, Piles, Pills, and Pauls. Although believed to have been a corn mill for most of its history, the mill has also been used to crush apples for cider making, most recently via gears and shafting to an adjacent building. The mill is thought to have originally had only a single pair of stones, but at some point around the end of the 19th century the workings were altered to accommodate a second pair. Most recently it has worked with a pair of French burrs, and a pair of sandstone conglomerates. The mill is currently not operational and the long leat from the River Aller is dry, however its unlimited opening (see below) and beautiful setting make it well worth a visit.
The waterwheel at Piles is 10' diameter by 3' wide, and is a mixture of cast iron and timber (timber buckets and arms). The compact internal gearing is atypical, the stones being driven via a horizontal layshaft with a large bevel gear for each pair. There is a small flour dresser.
Part of the Holnicote estate, after being owned by the Acland family for over two centuries, the mill is now owned by the National Trust. It is open at any time free of charge. The Trust operates a study centre in a nearby building. |
